Tia Seu Lupe is a historical site at Fatuoaiga, American Samoa, which is maintained by the American Samoa Department of Parks and Recreation.[1] The Tia Seu Lupe Historic Monument was dedicated by Governor Peter Tali Coleman in May 1990. It is located on a 0.2 ha plot of land on the Tafuna Plain which has been leased by the Government of American Samoa. The monument exhibits a stone structure which archeologists believe were platforms constructed for the chiefly sport of pigeon catching.[2] The name "Tia Seu Lupe" literally means "earthen mound to catch pigeons".[3]

Tia Seu Lupe is located near the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Ottoville, in a historical park adjacent to the Fatuoaiga Catholic Church Center. The restored pigeon-catching mound resembles in many ways that of the later marae of Eastern Polynesia. It is the most accessible of American Samoa’s star mounds. Tia Seu Lupe has a viewing platform where visitors can observe the two distinct tiers of the ancient structure. It is located behind a statue of St. Mary near the Catholic cathedral at Fatuoaiga.[3][4][5]

The historical park is located next to the only patch of lowland rainforest still found on Tutuila Island.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ "Park usage numbers increase despite major problems with vandalism and limited facilities". www.samoanews.com. February 25, 2013.
  2. ^ "Destination Articles". Visit American Samoa.
  3. ^ a b "Tia Seu Lupe | Tutuila, American Samoa Tutuila". www.lonelyplanet.com.
  4. ^ Rawlings-Way, Charles and Brett Atkinson (2016). Lonely Planet South Pacific. Lonely Planet. Pages 284 and 298. ISBN 9781786577344.
  5. ^ a b Stanley, David (1999). Moon Handbooks Tonga-Samoa. Moon Travel Guides. Page 177. ISBN 9781566911740.
  6. ^ Stanley, David (2004). Moon Handbooks South Pacific. Moon Travel Guides. Pages 479-480. ISBN 9781566914116.
  7. ^ Stanley, David (1996). South Pacific Handbook. David Stanley. Pages 412-413. ISBN 9781566910408.
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